Antiglare lens structure for headlights and the like



June 14, 1949. I 2,472,850

ANTIGLA LENS STRUCTURE FOR HEAD HTS AND THE LIKE Filed July 14, 1945 v2Sheets-Sheet l Inventor By wfi Attorneys 7 J. H. PLANT ANTIGLARE LENSSTRUCTURE FOR HEADLIGHTS AND THE LIKE June 14, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 14, 1945 r M n 6 w I JbH/v H PLANT vB and .bHA I l Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE ANTIGLARELENS STRUCTURE FOR HEADLIGHTS AND THE LIKE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in antiglare lens structures forautomobile headlights, especially, although not necessarily, since, aswill presently appear, the invention may be practiced in connection withvarious other forms of lights.

The primary object of the invention is to provide for such lights ananti-glare lens structure which is of simple form and inexpensiveconstruction and adapted to obviate glare tending to blind or confuseoncoming drivers, or pedestrians, on the road, and which will renderdimming of headlights unnecessary while at the same time providing foradequate road illumination.

Other and subordinate objects, also comprehended by my invention,together with the precise nature of my improvements, and the manifoldadvantages thereof, will become apparent When the succeeding descriptionand claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanyme andforming part of this Specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of my improved anti-glare lensstructure, in a preferred embodiment thereof, applied to an automobileheadlight,

Figure 2 is a View in vertical longitudinal section taken on the line2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a View in front elevation of the lens structure detached anddrawn to a reduced scale,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in front elevation of the headlightcasing,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in section of the lenses and the binderring therefor drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the keeper ring for thelenses, also drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 7 is a detail view in transverse section taken on the line 'II ofFigure 6,

Figure 8 is a view in vertical longitudinal section illustrating amodification of the invention,

Figure 9 is a view in front elevation of the lens structure of themodification of the invention detached and drawn to a reduced scale.

Reference being had to the drawings by numerals, and first to Figures 1to 7 thereof, my invention has been shown therein, in a preferredembodiment thereof, as forming part of the equipment of a well knowntype of automobile headlights of commerce, including the usual casing I,containing a reflector 2 of hemi-sp-herical form substantially, with alateral, external, annular flange 3 at the front thereof, and anelectric light carrying socket 4 in the axis of the reflector and rearpart thereof fixed therein with leads 5 extending therefrom out of thecasing I. Th casing I is provided at the front thereof with the usualinternal centering and clamping annulus 6 of right angled form in crosssection in which the flange 3 fit and seats rearwardly, the annulus 6being shown as formed integrally with the easing I in this instance. Theusual lens locking ring 1 fitting over the front of the casing I andsecured thereto by screws 3 embodies an internal right angled front edgeflange it opposed to the flange 3 in spaced-apart relation, as shown.

According to the preferred embodiment of my invention, a circular frontlens 9 is provided for the described headlight and which is formed ofclear glass and of concave-convex shape with the exception of a planesurrounding edge I0. Fitted in the lens 9 is a rear lens 5! of similarshape comprising substantially three-quarters of a circle with ahorizontal top chordal edge I2 from which a plane edge I3 similar to theedge In extends around the lens. The lens It is formed of a coloredglass, preferably amber, adapting the same to filter out some of thelight rays, both direct and projected, emanating from the reflector 2 soas to eliminate glare. The edges I0, I3 of the lenses 9, I I are clampedtogether in concentric relation' by means of a channeled binder ring I4,preferably of rubber, an arcuate filler strip I5 being interposedbetween the edge I2 of the lens II and the binder ring Hi and fitting insaid ring, as shown in Figure 2.

A keeper ring I6 is provided for the lenses 9, II and which is of fiatform and any suitable metal with forwardly projecting right angled lugsI'! suitably spaced around the same below the horizontal center of thering and in which the binder ring I4 is frictionally fitted. The keeperring I6 is provided with pairs of circumferentially spaced edge ears I9,which pairs are spaced circumferentially of the ring I6 incorrespondence with the lugs I! and fit in pairs of internal crossgrooves 20 provided in the annulus 6. The keeper ring I6 is retained inthe annulus E by the flange 8 of said ring I between which and anannular gasket 2i said keeper ring it is interposed, the gasket 2Ibearing against the flange 3 of the reflector 2 whereby said reflectoris retained in the annulus 6 by the keeper ring I6.

The manner in Which the invention as so far described is designed tooperate will be readily understood. Below the edge I2 of the rear lensII, the light rays are filtered by said lens I I in a manner to out downglare to a minimum, and, in effect, eliminate glare, whereas above saidedge I2 the light rays are projected through the front functions as aprotector fer flthe inventive concept, and right is he lens 9 downwardlyand forwardly to provide for road illumination. In this connection, itis to be noted that the light carrying socket 4 is arranged so that thelight is positioned in the axis of the reflector a distance greater thanhalf the radius from the rear of the reflector so that light rays arereflected forwardly and downwardly by the upper portion of the reflector2 above the edge l2 of the lens H. The front lens 9 protects the rearlens H, thereby maintaining the same clean. By removing the locking ringI, both lenses 9, H, together with the keeper ring I6, may be easily andquickly detached from the casing I and thereby provide for access to theinterior of the reflector 2, as occasion may require, and also forremoval of said reflector 2' and the gasket l3, as will be seen, thedescribed lens structure renders the use of dimmers unnecessary.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9, theconstruction and arrangement is the same as that previousl describedwithreference to the preferred embodiment of theinvention, with theexception that the-rear lens 2-2 is circular and of the same size as thefront lens-23. The front lens 23, in this instance, 1e rear lens 22.Such alens structure isparticularl adapted for use in flood lights onlanding fields, headlights for airplanes, and marine and locomotivelights.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sailing to impart a clearunderstanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly; the invention, as describe-cl, susc-eptiblelof modificationwithout departi from em reserved to such modifications as fall withinthe scope ofthe appended claims.

- WhatI claim is:

1. In a headlight comprising a casing, a lens structure comprising afront-circular lens or clear transparent material; and arear lens ofcolored transparent material opposed fiat against the front lens, achanneled binder ring in which the edges of the lenses are irictionallyfitted; and

.means to secure said structure in said casing com- 7 prising a keeperring having forwardly projecting rightangled lugs in which the binderring is fitted and provided with edge pairs of ears interlocked 4 withsaid casing against play crosswise of the same.

2. In a headlight comprising a casing, a lens structure comprising afront-circular lens of clear transparent material, and a rear lens ofcolored transparent material opposed flat against the front lens, achanneled binder ring in which the edges of the lenses are frictionallyfitted, and means to secure said structure-in said casing comprising akeeper ring having forwardly projecting right angled lugs in which thebinder ring is fitted and provided with edge pairs of cars interlockedwith said casing against play crosswise of the 'same,-said 'rear lensterminating between the horizontal center and top of the front lens in astraight horizontal edge.

3. In a. headlight comprising a casing, a lens structure comprising afront-circular lens of clear transparent material, and a rear lens ofcolored transparent material opposed fiat against the front-lens, achanneled binder ring in which theedges'otthelensesare frictionallyfitted, and means to secure said structure in said casing comprising. akeeper ring having forwardly projecting right angledlugsin which.the-binder ring is fitted and providedv with edge pairs of earsinterlocked with said easing against play crosswise of the same, saidfront lens being. circular in form and said rear lens comprisingsubstantially threequarters of a circle, and terminating in a horizontaltopstraight edge.

JOHNiHJ. PLANT.

- REFERENCES GI'IRED The following references are of record in the fileof thi's'patent:

- UNITED STATES- PATENTS .l-Iumber *"Name Date 1,166,244 ---Norton Dec;28, 1915 1,222,427 Lewellen et a1 *'Apr. 10, 191'? 1,433,731 Kubat Oct.31, 1922 1,471,395 Garwood -2 Oct. 23, 1923 1,755,298 Hotchkin Apr. 22,193i) FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 558,100: 'F rance 1923

